SSH2005

Sounds like our version of Joe Borchard, except that Borchard has a good shot of landing the last outfielder spot. I remember the massive amount of hype about this Phillips kid.

Bobby Abreu.

Must have been a typo, heh. But the lineup looks good the way he set it.

Oh okay, sorry. Last year, Gavin Floyd was the Phillies top pitching prospect according to Baseball America. He was their #2 rated overall prospect, second only to 1B Ryan Howard. But keep in mind that the Phillies' pitching depth in the minors was extremely weak before they got Gio Gonzaez and Daniel Haigwood from us. They pretty much just had two good pitching prospects -- Gavin Floyd and Cole Hamels. Floyd pitched too many innings for the Phillies in 2004 and 2005 to be rated as a prospect by Baseball America this year so Cole Hamels is now their #1 rated prospect.

Are you wondering if Floyd would be a better righty option out of the bullpen instead of one of the lefty options? If not, Gavin Floyd is a right-hander just in case I am reading your post wrong. But I love the lineup and that's the way I'd set it.

Here's a few tidbits on Gavin Floyd that I found on Google... http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/chat/041228wk.html http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_...29/ai_n13651335 I guess he has had some mechanics problems and trouble with commanding his fastball. He relies on his curveball too much. According to Baseball America, Floyd had the best curveball in the Phillies farm system last year.

Good curveball, fastball, and changeup. I think curveball is his best pitch. Not entirely sure though. His problem is control.

If Urbina is found not guilty and is released from jail, I'd take him on a cheap deal over having Bajenaru in our bullpen. Urbina may only get a minor league deal with all the crap going on with him.

Does anyone remember that there was a lot of buzz that the White Sox were interested in Abreu at the Winter Meetings? Apparently, Tim Kurkjian of ESPN reported that the Sox were interested in Abreu even back then. And I remember reading about how KW loves "big name" players.

That girl is cute but she's nothing special. If I was the QB of the Steelers I would have Playboy Playmates at my parties, not the run-of-the-mill bar chicks.

I don't know much about Floyd but I doubt he would have a 2.94 career minor league ERA if he "suffered at every level so far." http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/F/gavin-floyd.shtml

LOL, this rumor is getting around. Some poster (supposedly who has "sources") posted this... http://www.northsidebaseball.com/Forum/viewtopic.php?t=28775 I love this post...

Decent looking is right. I'd expect a NFL QB to do better.

Not quite... Iguchi (career stats batting 2nd): 507 AB | .274 AVG | .338 OBP | .434 SLG | .772 OPS Uribe (career stats batting 2nd): 584 AB | .269 AVG | .321 OBP | .433 SLG | .755 OPS

http://www.deadspin.com/sports/nfl/its-goo...-ben-151809.php Nice shirt, Big Ben!

Right now, Vazquez is our fifth starter and I expect better numbers than that from him next season.

Hmmm... http://www.prowrestling.com/news.php?id=16970/articles/news Could it be A.J.? Maybe he didn't want to piss off the Sox after signing a big contract.

Because the award is more about offense than defense. Lamest award in baseball. I knew Abreu could steal a lot of bases but I didn't know that he was pretty successful at it... Abreu (career stats): 241 SB 78 CS 75.5% SB success rate Abreu (2005 stats): 31 SB 9 CS 77.5% SB success rate

Agreed. I don't see Hermanson doing what he did last year again. He gives up far too many line shots for more liking. I just remember so many great defensive plays that saved runs when he was pitching. Since he has lost so many MPH on his fastball over the years and doesn't strike out anyone, he's pretty much a groundball/flyball pitcher who depends on the defense playing behind him. And if he starts walking guys, he's f***ed.

Good point. I'd damn sure take Fultz over any of the putrid lefty options we are going to see in ST. Fultz will earn $1.2 million in 2006.

The Sox would have never even thought of making a deal like this in the past. But now they are spending a lot of money. I would love Abreu over Dye (no offense to Mr. MVP but Abreu is better) but I also like having McCarthy in the bullpen as an extra starter incase one of our starters gets hit by an injury. McCarthy strengthens the bullpen AND the rotation in that way. By the way, Fultz isn't some good young lefty or anything. He's a 32 year old journeyman lefty who had one good season in his entire career... last year. He would probably be a throw-in in any trade the Phillies made. But I guess if Scott Eyre could get all that money from the Cubs for one good season, Fultz could have some trade value.

Didn't you say that the Marlins wouldn't trade Carlos Delgado this offseason?

Nobody knows. That's why it's just a rumor. If KW agreed to this trade he would have to be pretty sure of a few things: 1.) McCarthy will be able to pitch 200+ innings as our fifth starter. 2.) Bajenaru will be able to adequately replace McCarthy in the bullpen. 3.) Gavin Floyd or Tim Redding (:puke) will be able to step into the rotation if one of our starters gets hit by the injury bug.

I've got to think that the Phillies would trade Gavin Floyd way before they'd ever trade Cole Hamels. This trade rumor could be complete BS but it's probably the Contreras rumor that makes the most sense so far... 1.) The salaries of the players involved would be an even swap for 2006. Contreras ($8 million) and Dye ($5 million) will earn a combined $13 million in 2006. Abreu will earn $13 million in 2006. 2.) KW would be getting back what he has already said he would require in any trade involving Contreras -- a young starter in Gavin Floyd. McCarthy would enter our rotation as the fifth starter. Gavin Floyd could work out his kinks at Charlotte and possibly be a mid-season addition to the bullpen. 3.) Abreu can steal bases and is Venezuelan. Ozzie loves him. 'Nuff said. 4.) Dumping Abreu's $15 million salary for 2007 would allow Gillick to either re-sign Contreras after 2006 or go after another top-of-the-rotation starter like Barry Zito via free agency.